Exceptional Love and Mercy

Two different conversations on the same topic.

M: I want you to be on our side.
m: Things are not always that black and white.
M: That's true, there are some grey areas, but there are black and white areas also. There is evil, do you believe that?
m: Yes.
M: Then there is ordinary love.
m: What do you mean?
M: The love you can have for your friends and family.
m: Why is that ordinary?
M: It is ordinary because it is natural. Even bad guys have that kind of love. It's good, it just not exceptional. Some people don't even have this kind of love. But I want to be on the side of exceptional love.
m: What is exceptional love?
M: When you love someone who you would not naturally love, like someone different from you or even an enemy.
m: hmm.


K: Where does exceptional love come from? What makes someone want to love others this way?
M: I would think it has to be grace, because it is not natural.


How do we show exceptional love and mercy. If, indeed, it does come through grace, what are the means of grace? Is it a passive process? Do we just "wait on the Lord?" Seems he already wants us to show this kind of love. It is all over in Jesus' teachings.

After my contemplative prayer time this morning, I was reading the closing passages from the Sermon on the Plain in Luke.

Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say?

He had said earlier: But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies... and in the next thought: "Be compassionate,..." So, I would guess those would be things he said for us to do.

I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. ... [wise and foolish builders parable]

I noted three things: coming to him; hearing his words; putting the words into practice.

What does it mean to "put into practice?" I would think it means practicing it. No need to wait or be passive about it. Let's try it and then come back and talk about it. Tuesday night we can go under the bridge and practice loving some people that are hard to love. Maybe we will learn something about our hearts, their hearts, and God's heart. Maybe it is true that no help comes until we step out. Maybe it is true that the moment we step out we will find that the help is already there.